Sure we like our chocolate bunny ears, but around these parts the best easter eggs aren't painted pink and stuffed with jelly beans—they're the undocumented and unexpected fun features hidden deep inside various software apps. While new software Easter eggs don't come around often, there's still a basket full of classics we love. After the jump, get roundup of our favorite software Easter eggs.

How to find it: In all versions of Firefox, in the address bar, type about:mozilla.

What you get: A quote from the "Book of Mozilla" about the birth of Firefox.

9. Internet Explorer 6/7 credits

How to find it: Using Internet Explorer 7 (not IE6 or the IE8 beta), type javascript:window.name="TheWCEE";location.href="res://shdoclc.dll/wcee.htm" into the address bar.

What you get: A hidden page of IE developer credits.

Advertisement

8. Firefox Kitchen Sink

How to find it: In Firefox 2 and higher, type about kitchensink (no colon in there, unlike about:mozilla!). Correction: Looks like this one only works in the Firefox 3 beta. Apologies!Update: A commenter points out that this is Google's "I'm Feeling Lucky" search in action, not an Easter egg at all. Our bad!

7. Google Earth 4.2 Flight Simulator

How to find it: Launch the latest version 4.2 of Google Earth (free download) and hit Ctrl+Alt+A (Mac users: Cmd+Opt+A.)

What you get: A full-on flight simulator that lets you choose an airport, plane type, and lets you fly inside Google Earth. It is fun but it's not easy; here's more on how to navigate in flight in Google Earth.

4. Minesweeper Reveal Mines Cheat

(Note: Technically, this is more a cheat than an egg.)

How to find it: In Minesweeper, type "xyzzy." Then press Shift+Enter.

What you get: A single pixel on the upper-left hand corner of your monitor will turn black when you mouse over a block that contains a mine. Get the high score on the family computer! (Note: several people report that this cheat works on Windows XP with SP2, but those with widescreen monitors like myself might have trouble. Let us know if it works for you in the comments.)

Advertisement

3. Excel 97 Flight Simulator

How to find it: This one's an oldie but a goodie. Using Excel 97 (doesn't work in later versions), create a new worksheet, and press F5. Type "X97:L97" and press Enter. Press the Tab key, hold down Ctrl and Shift, and left-click the Chart Wizard toolbar icon.

What you get: Launched into a nifty flight simulator that glides you over the surface of a planet (the moon?) and shows you Excel developer credits. (I don't have a copy of Excel 97 any more, but definitely got this puppy to work back in the day.) Thanks to EggHeaven for reminding us of the steps to get there.